Submarine with remotely controlled diving and surfacing means

ABSTRACT

A remote controlled toy submarine having neutral buoyancy. A closed tank in the hull of the vessel has separate fluid inflow ports and fluid outflow ports in its upper portion, and free fluid inflow and outflow ports in its lower portion. A remote control flexible line controls diving vanes on the hull and means to control the fluid outflow ports, to open the latter for diving and to close the latter for surfacing.

United States Patent Inventor Gary Horace Whitman 68 Eaglewood Blvd.,Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Appl. No. 73,447

Filed Sept. 18, 1970 Patented Dec. 21,1971

SUBMARINE WITII REMOTELY CONTROLLED DIVING AND SURFACING MEANS 10Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

11.5. CI 46/94 Int. Cl A63h 23/00, A63h 23/04 Field of Search 46/94, 243MV [56] References Cited 7 UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,091,895 6/1963 Stopek46/94 X 3,466,798 9/1969 Speers et al 46/94 X Primary Examiner F. BarryShay Attorney-Westell and Hanley ABSTRACT: A remote controlledl toysubmarine having neutral buoyancy. A closed tank in "the hull of thevessel has separate fluid inflow ports and fluid outflow ports in itsupper portion, and free fluid inflow and outflow ports in its lowerportion. A remote control flexible line controls diving vanes on thehull and means to control the fluid outflow ports, to open the latterfor diving and to close the latter for surfacing.

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I 'mm 1mm! Ml INVENTOR. GARY H. WHITMAN PATENT AGENTS SUBMARINIE WITHREMOTELY CONTROLLED DIVING AND SURF ACING MEANS This invention relatesto a remote controlled toy submarine.

For realistic operation of a toy submarine it is desirable that itshould be capable of submerging and surfacing, preferably by remotecontrol which greatly increases the versatility of the vessel. Variousdevices have been proposed for such remote control but these involve theuse of buoyant material for resurfacing of the vessel, which requiresmore complex apparatus for the diving operation to overcome thebuoyancy.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy submarine ofneutral buoyancy with simplified means for remotely controlling theoperation of the vessel.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a submarine;

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of one of the ballast tanks of the device shownin FIG. I and showing the interrelationship between the tank and themovable planes when diving;

FIG. 3 is an enlargement similar to FIG. 2 showing the operation of thetank and planes when surfacing;

FIG. 4 is a simplified cross-sectional end view showing the operation ofthe ballast tanks when the submarine is surfaced and in a position ofrest;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, further simplified, showing theoperation of the ballast tanks when the submarine is submerging;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the operation of the ballasttanks when the submarine is surfacing; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional side view of the valve stem ofthe device.

In the drawings, FIG. 1, shows a toy submarine having a hull 10 with aprow 11, a stem 12, a keel 13, a deck 14 and a superstructure 15. Hull10 is ellipsoidal in cross section, (see FIGS. 4 to 6) and encloses achamber 16 having a plurality of apertures 17 opening from the upperportion of the chamber through the hull and a furtherplurality ofapertures 18 opening from the lower portion of the chamber through thehull. Pairs of diving and surfacing planes 19 are pivotally mounted onhull 10 adjacent prow 11 and stem 12 respectively, each pair of planesbeing fixed on a transverse shaft 20 rotatably mounted through the hull.A crank arm 21 is fixed radially on each shaft 20 within chamber 16.

A pair of tanks are fixed to hull 10 within chamber 16 fore and aft ofthe center of gravity of the hull and of superstructure l5. Tanks 30 arecentrally located in chamber 16 with the top of each tank abutting deck14. Each tank 30 encloses a watertight and airtight chamber 31 with aseries of apertures 32 opening from chamber 16 through the top of thetank and deck 14, and a further series of apertures 33 opening from thebottom of the tank into chamber 16. Each aperture 32 is closed by aone-way valve 34 seated on the aperture and hinged to open into chamber31 of tank 30 but normally in closed position. A vertical cylinder 35 islocated in one end of each tank 20 with a plurality of ports 36 openingfrom chamber 31 of the tank into a chamber 37 of the cylinder which isconnected by a passage 38 opening from the top of the cylinder chamberthrough deck 14. A valve head 39 fixed on a stem moves vertically withincylinder 35 to open and close ports 36 and the valve head is urgedupwardly into closing position by a compression spring 40 on a stem 41hearing at one end against cylinder 35 and at the other end againstvalve head 39. Stem 41 is tubular and a rod 42 is movable axially withinthe stem through a ring 43 (FIG. 7). A head 44 is fixed on the upper,free end of rod 42 and will not pass through ring 43. Rod 42 projectsdownwardly through the bottom end of cylinder 35 and is pivotablyconnected at its free end with a connecting rod 45 the other end of theconnecting rod being pivotably connected with one arm 46 of a bellcrank47 which is pivotably mounted within chamber 16 by a pin 48 to atrunnion 49 fixed to keel I3 ofhull 10.

A remote control flexible line 50, looped to form a lead strand 51 and areturn strand 52, enters chamber 16 of hull 10 through a pair ofapertures 33 in prow 11 and passes over a number of guide pins 36mounted on the hull within the chamber, looping over an end pin 35mounted on the hull in the chamber adjacent stem 12. Lead strand 51 isconnected with crank arms 21 of planes 20 and a second crank arm 56 ofeach crank 47. Lead strand 5! is so connected with crank arms 21 and 46that ports 36 of cylinder 35 are 1) open when planes 19 are in divingposition (directed forwardly and downwardly), as seen FIG. 2 of thedrawings and (2) closed when the planes are (a) in surfacing position(directed forwardly and upwardly), as seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, or(b) in horizontal (neutral) position as seen in FIG. 1.

A buoyancy tank or sealed air chamber 60 centered in superstructure 15keeps hull 10 upright while a pair of weight members 61 centrallylocated in hull 10 fore and aft of su perstructure 15 provide furtherbalance and, together with the weight of the vessel itself, neutralizethe buoyancy of air chamber 60.

In the operation of the device, the vessel rides at rest on the surfaceof the water when diving planes 19 are in a neutral (horizontal)position and ports 36 of cylinder 35 are closed, as seen in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. In this position chambers 31 of tanks 30 are partiallyfilled with water and the air above the water is trapped in the chamberto keep the vessel surfaced. To submerge the submarine an operator pullsthe vessel forward by means of line 50 and at the same time movesstrands 51 and 52 in the direction of arrows 70, as seen in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings, to move planes 19 into a diving position and lower valvehead 39 to open ports 36 of each cylinder 35. The forward motion of thevessel causes hull 10 to submerge because of the angle of planes 19 withrespect to the hull, and this causes the air in chamber 31 of each tank20 to escape through ports 36 and 38 in cylinder 35, the air escapingfrom chamber 31 being displaced by water entering freely into chamber 31through ports 33 from chamber 16 of hull 10, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5.When all the air has escaped from tanks 20 the neutral buoyance of hull10 keeps the vessel at a level below the surface of the water dependentupon the position of planes 19 and the velocity of movement of thevessel being pulled by cable 50.

To surface the submarine, lead strand 51 and return strand 52 of line 50are moved in the direction of arrows 71, as seen in FIG. 3 of thedrawings, while the: vessel is being towed through the water by cable50. This movement of strands 51 and 52 tilts planes l9 upwardly whichraises the vessel as the water flows over the planes. The movement ofthe strands 51 and 52 also allows spring 40 to move valve head 39 upwardto close ports 36. When hull 10 breaks the surface of the water, gravitylowers the water surface in chambers 31 of tanks 30 and the resultantvacuum opens valves 34 allowing air to enter the chamber through ports32, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 6. When the volume of air in tanks 20 hasreached an equilibrium with the volume of water in those tanks, valves34 will close and the vessel will ride partly submerged as seen in FIGS.1 and 4. In other words, with valves 33 closed and air trapped inchambers 16 of tanks 20 the vessel becomes buoyant and rides on thesurface of the water. The construction of valve stem 41 enables planes19 to move back into a. horizontal position by line 50 without reopeningports 36, head 14 on rod 42 bearing downwardly against ring 43 on thedownward movement of the rod only when planes 19 are moved out of ahorizontal position into a diving position.

Ports l7 and 18 in hull 10 allow both water and air to flow freely intoand out of chamber 16 to maintain neutral buoyance in the vessel whetherafloat or submerged.

As a matter of design, one or more planes 19 and one or more tanks 30could be used in the device of the invention, while some or all ports32, 33 and 38 could open either into hull 10 or through the hull. Also,buoyancy tank 60 and weight members 61 could be of other shapes andlocations, either within or outside hull l0.

lclaim:

1. A remote controlled toy submarine comprising:

a hull;

at least one means for diving and surfacing comprising a plane pivotablymounted on the hull;

balancing and neutral buoyancy means carried by the hull;

at least one closed tank located in at least a portion of the hull, saidtank having an uppermost portion that is fluidtight, means located inthe lower portion of the submarine for the free inflow and outflow offluid from outside the hull into said tank, means located in the upperportion of the tank for permitting the inflow thereto of fluid inresponse to outflow of fluid at the lower means, and means located inthe upper portion of the tank for permitting the outflow therefrom offluid;

means to open and close the fluid outflow permitting means;

and

a remotely controllable flexible line, means connecting said line tosaid opening and closing means and to said diving means to actuate theplane and the fluid outflow permitting means in the tank whereby onpivoting the plane into a diving position the fluid outflow permittingmeans in the tank is opened and on moving the plane into a surfacingposition the fluid outflow permitting means in the tank is closed.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the tank is mounted in thehull, said lower means including a plurality of apertures in both theupper and lower portions of said hull for the free inflow and outflow offluid.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid outflow permittingmeans in the tank comprises a port opening from the tank, said openingand closing means including a valve head movable within the tank andadapted to open and close the port.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in which the valve head is slidablevertically in the tank and the connecting means comprises a valve stemconnected at one end with the valve head and at the other end to apivotable bellcrank connected to the line.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which each fluid inflow permittingmeans of the tank comprises a port having a normally closed one-wayvalve actuatable by fluid pressure externally of the tank to open intothe tank.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the hull carries a pair ofsaid tanks located fore and aft respectively of the center of gravity ofthe hull.

7. A device as claimed in claim I in which the hull includes a deck, thefluid inflow permitting means and the fluid outflow permitting meansopening opening upwardly through the deck.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the balancing and neutralbuoyancy means comprises a sealed air tank located above the center ofgravity of the hull and a pair of weights centrally located fore and aftrespectively of the center of the gravity of the hull.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8 in which the air tank is located in asuperstructure of the hull.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which'at least one pair of saidplanes is fixed on a shaft rotatably mounted transversely on the hull,said connecting means including a crank arm fixed radially on the shaft,and the line being connected with the free end of the crank arm.

1. A remote controlled toy submarine comprising: a hull; at least onemeans for diving and surfacing comprising a plane pivotably mounted onthe hull; balancing and neutral buoyancy means carried by the hull; atleast one closed tank located in at least a portion of the hull, saidtank having an uppermost portion that is fluidtight, means located inthe lower portion of the submarine for the free inflow and outflow offluid from outside the hull into said tank, means located in the upperportion of the tank for permitting the inflow thereto of fluid inresponse to outflow of fluid at the lower means, and means located inthe upper portion of the tank for permitting the outflow therefrom offluid; means to open and close the fluid outflow permitting means; and aremotely controllable flexible line, means connecting said line to saidopening and closing means and to said diving means to actuate the planeand the fluid outflow permitting means in the tank whereby on pivotingthe plane into a diving position the fluid outflow permitting means inthe tank is opened and on moving the plane into a surfacing position thefluid outflow permitting means in the tank is closed.
 2. A device asclaimed in claim 1 in which the tank is mounted in the hull, said lowermeans including a plurality of apertures in both the upper and lowerportions of said hull for the free inflow and outflow of fluid.
 3. Adevice as claimed in claim 1 in which the fluid outflow permitting meansin the tank comprises a port opening from the tank, said opening andclosing means including a valve head movable within the tank and adaptedto open and close the port.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 3 in whichthe valve head is slidable vertically in the tank and the connectingmeans comprises a valve stem connected at one end with the valve headand at the other end to a pivotable bellcrank connected to the line. 5.A device as claimed in claim 1 in which each fluid inflow permittingmeans of the tank comprises a port having a normally closed one-wayvalve actuatable by fluid pressure externally of the tank to open intothe tank.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which the hull carries apair of said tanks located fore and aft respectively of the center ofgravity of the hull.
 7. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the hullincludes a deck, the fluid inflow permitting means and the fluid outflowpermitting means opening opening upwardly through the deck.
 8. A deviceas claimed in claim 1 in which the balancing and neutral buoyancy meanscomprises a sealed air tank located above the center of gravity of thehull and a pair of weights centrally located fore and aft respectivelyof the center of the gravity of the hull.
 9. A device as claimed inclaim 8 in which the air tank is located in a superstructure of thehull.
 10. A device as claimed in clAim 1 in which at least one pair ofsaid planes is fixed on a shaft rotatably mounted transversely on thehull, said connecting means including a crank arm fixed radially on theshaft, and the line being connected with the free end of the crank arm.